Michalis Michalis was born in Gazimağusa to parents who came from Bafra (Vokolida). In 1967, at the age of 12, they moved to London. In August 1974 he volunteered to fight in Cyprus along with many other Greek Cypriots on the ship “Arion”. Seeing the tragic situation in Cyprus, he departs back for Athens with many other refugees. He arranges many of them in hotels and other accommodations in Athens, while some arrange for them to go with him back to London.
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Return and new odyssey
He returned to Cyprus in 1978 and served his military service. He lived in Larnaca. There he meets his wife Marianna, who comes from Montenegro.
In 2008, after receiving death threats, he sells his farm and returns to Cyprus as a family. They were preceded by savage murders of other whites in Africa to force them all to flee.
They rent a house in Larnaca and open a tavern in Paralimni. In 2015 he retires and rents a house in Strovilia to be as close as possible to his beloved Famagusta.
In Strovilia life is difficult. On the one hand the Turkish army and on the other the English Bases troubled him in his movement.
In order to get out on the main road to Vrysoules, he had to go around the fields as the front of his house is under the control of the Turks, while the back is located within the Bases. He decides to move elsewhere. He tried to find a house to rent in Larnaca, but the rents were high and prohibitive for a pensioner.
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his father’s Village Bafra (Vokolonida)
On a visit to Bafra, his father’s village, someone threw the idea of renting a house there. So, after a short search, he found a house built by a Turk, who agreed to rent him the ground floor. In Bafra live Turkish settlers who all come from a specific city in Eastern Turkey. Michalis states that they all proved to be very friendly and helped him in all the problems he faced.
Nevertheless, his suffering did not end here. Despite the fact that the Turks initially agreed to allow him to Cross over all his furniture, they eventually backed off and wanted to impose a tax on him. In the end he managed to bring them over – bit by bit without a problem.
He turned to the authorities of the “TRNC” to ensure permanent residence. Despite the fact that the “Minister of Interior” made sure to guide him and facilitate his process, the Muhta of Bafra stubbornly refused to give him a certificate that he lives there. In the end, he managed, with the help mainly of the “minister”, to secure all the certificates.
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Disgusted, but happy
His family’s family home has completely collapsed and now it is only land. Mr. Michalis, however, will start a process through the Real Estate Committee to claim the return of the land.
Mr. Michalis now lives with his beloved wife Marianna in his village. He feels disgusted by the mockery of our politicians and the games played on the backs of refugees and other victims.
“I’m tired of waiting for a solution that will never come,” he says. “So, I did what my heart and soul said. I returned to my homeland and I am happy”
